Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I have just been corrected by my son...I was looking at my blog and reading others blogs when he asked to see the picture of his first fish he caught last Tuesday. He was not too happy when I went to my blog and we couldn't find the pictures. So, here he sits in my lap at this late hour watching me put up his 'special' pictures. I wouldn't want to disappoint him!

A family in the church has a pond behind their house and Landon and his daddy went fishing in it last Tuesday while I was at ladies prayer meeting. The pond is really deep in some places so paranoid momma and pawpaw made sure that he had on a life jacket. You just never know when a boy is going to fall into the water!

You have never seen a happier little boy than he was! He caught the fish and reeled it in all by himself. He's become quiet the fisherman in the family since we have been here and near all the rivers, lakes and ponds. He loves to go fishing even if it's only for an hour! It's so hot these summer days that an hour is about all we can take of the heat.

This moment was so priceless! He was quiet upset that he had to let the fish go off the stringer and put him back into the water because it was too small. He saved it till I could get there to see it. He was crying because he wanted to bring it home and let it swim and live in his bathtub. But daddy said no. I was being a softie and wanted to let him bring it home and put it in a tank. Yeah, can you believe that? A city slicker willing to let her son keep a nasty fish from a pond in a tank in his room. Oh, what is happening to me? lol

Now that I have been a good mom and posted my son's special pictures, I must hit the hay and get some sleep. Tomorrow is a busy day for us. I am going with my mother-n-law and a couple of ladies from the church to pick out some new things for the ladies bathroom. Then after our Wednesday night church service, I have to come home and finish packing for our little trip Thursday and Friday.

I am so excited because we are going to go to the 95th Annual Louisiana District Camp Meeting Services. It's so out of character for me to be excited about going to a place that has thousands of people attending. I used to not be comfortable in crowds, but these days I find myself right in the middle of things and usually with people I have just met or never met. I love meeting all the new people I have met here, and I'm enjoying getting to know some really great people. Someone commented to me the other day that they were so shocked at how I had just come out of my shell and become so outgoing and how comfortable I was with the things that used to make me nervous. What could I say? I'm shocked myself! Go figure...anyway, good night to all. See you tomorrow.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Wow...it's been a busy weekend! We spent most of our time working with the youth at church on Friday night and trying to get some things organized with them. Then we were working on the church floors and putting in the baseboards and working on the foyer all day Saturday. I am loving how the new tile floors turned out! I wish I had a before picture that I could find to post. We should be getting our new doors to the sanctuary soon, and the new clear windows to replace the stained glass in the foyer and that will make a huge difference also. Here's a picture of what we have so far...now to find some chairs and a table for the other side of the foyer, and a rug.

Saturday evening we spent at the hospital with my father-n-law, visiting with him and taking care of some things he needed done. Only to come home (very late) and find that my iron had decided to press it's last garmet. So, all the way back to the next town to Wal-Mart so we don't have to wear wrinkled clothes to Sunday School. This was when I realized how far Wal-Mart was from me...it's about 27 miles ONE WAY! But, there was no other choice since we live in a one-horse town and there are no drug stores or such stores that carry irons open past 9pm. The grocery stores close at 10. Yeah, I'm having some problems adjusting to that!

So, I'm happy to report that we found an iron at Wal-Mart, and made it to church without wrinkled clothes Sunday morning. When we arrived at the church Sunday Morning we found this on the church sign...Needless to say, I got a little emotional. The church was having a welcome dinner for us after service and it was just awesome. My father-n-law could not attend the service because he was still in the hospital, but he wrote a letter for one of the men to read to my husband and myself...welcoming us to the church and to being the assistant pastor. I am not usually a big crier, but I shed quite a few tears during that few moments. We feel so humbled and so loved by everyone here at PHOP, and they have just made us feel at home. To say I love these people would be an understatement. I think about them and pray for them every day, and feel like they are a part of my family. I'd do anything I could to help them.

My husband done an awesome job with the services Sunday morning and Sunday evening. We had a mighty move of God and had one to receive the Holy Ghost Sunday night. We are so excited about all that God is doing here in Louisiana. My father-n-law was able to come home from the hospital today, so we are thrilled about that. He has a long road ahead of him to get his strength back but I'm positive that God will give him a speedy recovery. So, after a busy weekend and a long Monday, I am off to bed to get some much needed rest. Tomorrow is another day and I have lots to get done then. Hope everyone has a blessed week.

Friday, June 26, 2009

We took Landon to three of the beaches here yesterday. As you can tell by this first picture, he was simply amazed at all the water.

It didn't take him long to wade into the water...

Before we knew it, he was soaked!

And loving every minute of it!It was even too much fun for daddy to resist!

We then drove to the next beach, where Landon remembered to change into his swimming trunks before going in...

Can you tell he's having fun???He even 'surfed' a bit!

After so much fun...it was time to head home.

Or, so we thought...but then...we passed another beach on the way home, and NOTHING would do until we stopped at ANOTHER BEACH! That child don't miss much.

This beach area was in Lake Charles and had a great place for him to play with his sand toys. He even went swimming for a while. (And YES! I made him wear a life jacket because we weren't sure how deep the water was in all the places he went.) He's still learning how to swim and mommy is paranoid because some of the places have drop offs and the child has NO FEAR of the water!

After about five hours of fun...it's time to head home! I just knew he'd be asleep before we got back to the house, but WAS I EVER WRONG! He needed to eat first and get a bath. Then, three hours of quiet in the house.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Tomorrow Anthony and I will celebrate our 21st anniversary. He asked me tonight on the way to church if I had it to do over if I'd marry him again. My reply was 'Of course I'd do it all over again...I'd have 21 years of experience and not have to make all the silly mistakes young couples make and learn from.'

Seriously, I wouldn't give it a second thought. I'd say yes just as fast as I did the first time. I love this man with all my heart. I thought today about all the things we have been through in the last 21 years, and I found myself crying one moment and laughing the next. I found myself smiling at all the crazy things we found to do when we were much younger and much more careless! Then I couldn't help but cry when I looked back at how the hard times only drew us closer together. The years of wanting a child and trying to have a child and then losing three babies to miscarriages were some of the hardest times of our marriage, yet we let those times bring us closer and make us stronger as a couple. I can't help but smile when I remember all the nights he would hold me close and tell me that one day we'd be parents and bring our child home instead of leaving the hospital empty-handed and coming home to an empty nursery. Of course, I didn't believe him at that moment, for my emotions were too raw and my heart couldn't believe or trust in that dream. He never judged me for being so negative about it...he just loved me and believed for me.

It struck me speechless tonight as I looked into the back seat on our way to church and seen that beautiful little boy sitting in his carseat and chatting away to his dad and I about his day. I couldn't say a word for a moment...all I could do was smile and think how much our marriage has been blessed by this little miracle. How I now have everything that matters...I have the love and faithfulness of a great husband, a beautiful and healthy little boy, a nice home, food to eat, the list could go on forever. I am a blessed woman. I have the things that some people search their whole lives for and never find.

So, in answer to your question, honey...YES, I'd do it all over again! In a heartbeat. It's a wonderful feeling to still be in love after all these years.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Well, we finally got internet at the house today! Thankfully, my brother-n-law works for a telephone/internet company and he was able to speed things up for us.

Well, we are just about settled in and only have six boxes left to unpack. We are going to rent for the next six months until we decide where we are going to buy. There are several properties that we are interested in, and they are all beautiful and have land with them. I'm really excited about that. I love where we are living until we buy a place so that makes the waiting part much easier.

We have been really busy with church activities since we arrived and I haven't really had much time to stop. I love everything about being here and all that my position here requires. If someone would have told me a year ago that I'd be here in Louisiana and be the assistant pastor's wife at my father-n-laws church, and be happy about it...well, I'm sure I would have just laughed at them and walked away. I am still amazed myself at how much I am enjoying working in the kingdom here! I wouldn't change a single thing. I've found that contentment that I have been searching for.

I miss all my family and all my friends from GPUPC, but I know that they are just a phone call and a visit away. Grand Prairie Church will always be my home church, and the church that I attend when we are visiting my family, but I am so thankful that God has given me a love for Pentecostal House Of Praise. They are some of the greatest people on earth and have accepted my husband, my son, and myself with open arms and much respect. It's humbling to know that they accept and love and respect us in the manner they have shown since we have been here. It's such a blessing to be a part of them now.

So...I'll be posting lots of pictures of things happening here and pictures from our moving process in the next few days as I get the time...for now we are off to finish painting the moulding for the foyer at the church. We just got new tile in the foyer, halls and fellowship hall and are painting some moulding for the baseboards. I'll post pics when we are done. Have a great Tuesday evening.

Landon & Daddy walking a foot bridge in Rusk, where we stopped to spend the night on our way to Louisiana. Landon enjoying the swimming pool at the hotelLandon ready for bed after his swim...with his little friend.Landon and mommy ready to go to church...Landon and daddyA couple pictures of the living room that is finally unpacked!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Time is just so funny! When I was younger, I wished time away on a daily basis...I wanted to grow up. Now too often, I find myself wishing for time to stop. As I look back over the last four years I am just amazed at how fast time has passed me by, and even more amazed at how much one little boy has changed my whole world!

I used to be the greatest housekeeper...seriously, you could have eaten off my floors and never worried about getting a germ. I used to be so organized, I could find anything at a moment's notice. These days, you will probably more likely than not trip over a toy in any room of my home, and if you ask me for something like a receipt...well, it will be a miracle if I can find it, and if I do find it, you can rest assured Landon will have drawn all over it.

Funny thing is, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world! This little boy has brought so much joy and laughter to my life. He has put sunshine into the darkest days. I am filled with wonder at all that he does. It's a beautiful thing to look at the world through his eyes! He views everyone as kind and good, he views every day as a new day to explore something in this world. Oh, that I could grasp on to and hold tightly to that innocence.

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Landon! You are the best thing that ever happened to your daddy and I. We love you more than life itself. Happy 4th birthday.

Here's a couple pictures from Landon's party on Saturday. We had a small party because our church friends had choir pratice Saturday night and that was the only time my brother and sister could come into town. We are in the midst of moving and so we just went with it and had a great time. I did miss all my family and church friends not being able to be there.

And here's some pictures of Landon helping daddy load the UHaul this morning. See how great a kid he is...he don't even seem to mind that we are busy packing and moving on his special day!

Friday, June 5, 2009

And the winner is...Layla! I promise you it was not rigged. Layla is one of my 'real-life' friends too. She really wanted to win this contest too. Funny thing is that she brought me something over last night that she knew I was really wanting. It was something I had told her I was going to get and wanted really bad. She wouldn't let me pay her for it...said it was my going away present. Her comment was that if I had to pay for it, then I wouldn't remember her every time I used it. I guess God has ways of 'paying' people back when they do kind things for others.

So, Layla...send me the email that you want UPrinting to use to contact you. You have my personal email. And, I hope you enjoy your prize. Thanks to all of you who entered.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

My sweet friend, Layla, called tonight and brought me by the sweetest going away gift. She knew how much I wanted this item, and tonight when she was at Costco and seen they only had a few left she bought me one. Isn't it beautiful. I can't wait to use it. It's an acrylic beverage dispenser with an ice bucket on the bottom to keep the beverage cold.

Seriously, right now I just feel all warm and fuzzy inside. THANK YOU, Layla! That is one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me. Every time I use this, I will remember you and your kindness and what a great friend you are! I'm gonna miss you and all the laughter you brought into my life every time we were together.

I will be drawing for the UPrinitng giveaway tomorrow morning, so don't forget to go here to post a comment and enter.

One lucky winner will receive an 18X24 poster print from UPrinting.com. So, hurry and enter for your chance to win. This could be your lucky day!

~~~~Also, please continue to keep PawPaw Guitar (my FIL) in your prayers as he is still in the hospital. His stress test came back with no blockage or heart damage, but he is still very ill and has no energy. He was going to be released yesterday evening but took sick again so they kept him to run some test on his gallbladder today.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

We came to Louisiana Monday morning to have the carpets cleaned in our new house and to bring a load of things that I was concerned about riding in the UHaul. We called to let my in-laws know what time we would be in town and learned that my father-n-law was being admitted to the hospital again. He was in the ER on Saturday and was allowed to come home Sunday morning. When he went for his doctor's visit on Monday morning, he was put back into the hospital. They have run every test immaginable and are not finding anything yet. He will have a neculear stress test later this afternoon so they can check for blockage in his heart. His heart rate is too low this morning.

I ask that anyone who reads this say a word of prayer for him...you can call him PawPaw Guitar like my son does. Landon nicknamed him PawPaw Guitar because he couldn't say his last name at that time and he just knew he played a guitar. The name has stuck and he gets called that by lots of people. Especially if Landon is around because he will correct you on his name! Anthony and I will be moved here in about a week so we will be able to take a lot of the stress off of him, but he needs God to touch his body today.

On another note, the new place is coming along great. I got lots of things unpacked yesterday and got the bathrooms almost completely decorated. I need to go and finish Landon's bathroom and hanging a few things in it. I had to chuckle yesterday as I was decorating it because I had chosen a western theme for Landon's room and just carried it over into his bathroom. Well, the rug that I bought has a huge star and Texas on it. I didn't realize how much Texas stuff was in his bathroom until yesterday. It just made me feel like a little piece of home was with me. I LOVE Texas...so all my friends here will just have to learn to love all the Texas stuff in my hall bath!

And don't forget to scroll down and join in on the give away from UPrinting below! The winner will be announced this Friday morning.

About Me

I am happily married to a wonderful man who still makes me smile after 21 years of marriage. We have one son, Landon, who is the love and the joy of our lives! Landon was born seventeen days before our 17th wedding anniversary. We lost three babies by miscarriages before we were blessed with a healthy little boy. This precious little boy is a gift from God, and has become Our World! Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for the gift of life, wrapped in such a beautiful package.